The Macho Man is no more

Remember Wrestlemania on STN in the 90s, you cannot separate ‘Macho Man’ Randy Savage from Pakistan's wrestling craze.

KARACHI:

For most in my generation, their first ever television experiences were punctuated by glimpses of WWF wrestling matches. To this day, I fail to understand what it exactly was about wrestling that had us so entranced. We would defend its reality almost religiously. The fact that wrestling was fake, was blasphemy to a six-year-old. Everyone had a favourite, from that pantheon of wrestlers. The child’s dedication to the favourite would almost border the sort many adults have for patron saints. The phenomenon was so pervasive that even after outgrowing the in-ring antics and reconciling ourselves with its “of course it’s obvious!” fakeness, the wrestlers, their moves, taunts and catchphrases are instantly recognisable.

One of the most recognisable catchphrases of that wrestling era belonged to Randy “Macho Man” Savage. His “Oooohh yeah!” delivered in a trademark raspy voice was one of the highlights of that era. Add to it his outlandish attire, his glittering Stetson and a trademark swagger often duplicated but still unmatched, and you have the makings of a wrestling legend.

The wrestling legend died on the morning of May 20 due to an automobile accident. The cause is suspected to be a heart-attack which may have caused him to lose control of the vehicle. Although inactive as a professional wrestler in recent years, Randy Savage had an illustrious in-ring career and is credited as one of the pioneering figures in the history of wrestling entertainment.

Born Randy Mario Poffo on November 15, 1952 in Columbus, Ohio, he was the son of then well-known wrestler Angelo Poffo.  Despite his wrestling pedigree though, Savage initially opted for a career in baseball, playing minor league for teams including St Louis Cardinals, Cincinnati Reds and Chicago White Sox. His baseball career lasted till 1974, when he switched to professional wrestling full time.

His first foray into wrestling was in 1973, during the baseball off season. He debuted as a wrestling character dubbed the Spider, based on Marvel Comics’ character Spiderman. Randy also paid homage by playing a professional wrestler in the first Spiderman film. He later adopted the name he is now universally famous for at the suggestion of wrestling booker Ole Anderson. Savage wrestled through a number of wrestling promotions, including Jerry “the King” Lawler’s Continental Wrestling Association before signing on with the World Wrestling Federation (WWF: now World Wrestling Entertainment or WWE).

With the WWF, Randy Savage reached the height of his career, both in terms of athletic ability and his ring persona. He participated in a string of well publicised feuds with equally legendary competitors such as Ric Flair, the Ultimate Warrior and Jake “the Snake” Roberts. Along with Hulk Hogan, he was half of the larger-than-life tag-team known as “The Mega Powers”.  Undoubtedly though, the epitome of his ability was seen in his 1987 match with Ricky “the Dragon” Steamboat at Wrestlemania III. Still considered one of the greatest matches in the wrestling entertainment history, it was then named Match of the Year by the Wrestling Observer and Pro Wrestling Illustrated.

The match itself was unprecedented in the sense that it was extremely choreographed and rehearsed, as opposed to the improvised nature of most wrestling matches. Randy Savage and Ricky Steamboat developed an in-ring play, pioneering the nature of wrestling entertainment. His attention to minute details and his natural dramatic ability led to the inception of one of the most memorable moments in the wrestling history. The match is still etched in the memories of wrestling fans all over the globe. Randy Savage is also notable for his in-ring marriage to Miss Elizabeth, mirroring their real life marriage as well, thus blending reality with entertainment. This blending would later form a staple of wrestling entertainment, where promoters would use real life friendships, marriages, divorces and rivalries as inspiration for in-ring storylines.

Randy Savage’s lasting legacy, though, is in his then revolutionary approach towards his craft. In an era dominated by giants and bodybuilders in the ring, Randy Savage seemed almost diminutive at 6 ft 2 and 237 lbs. He would not however, allow himself to be sidelined in the business. Using his natural athleticism, Savage surpassed the lethargy of the traditional wrestling match, creating the first high intensity, adrenalin charged matches that went on to become wrestling staples. This, in conjunction with his natural theatrical ability and his flair for the extravagant, made him one of the most visual figures in his generation of wrestlers. He was as well known for his skill with the mic as he was for his antics in the ring. His legacy is in pioneering the way for future legends such as Shawn Michaels, who again, relied on athleticism and theatrics, rather than brute force to survive in wrestling entertainment. Other current stars who followed his approach include Chris Jericho and John Morrison from WWE.

In Pakistan, his generation of wrestlers is largely associated with our first exposure to wrestling entertainment. Many, who grew up in the beginning of the 90s, remember the glimpses of Wrestlemania on STN. Faces of that generation would find their way everywhere from posters in gyms and bedrooms, to stickers discovered at the bottom of those packets of wafers we all remember from recess. The wrestling craze in Pakistan started with Macho Man and his contemporaries, and with his death, one can’t help but notice the end of era, even halfway across the world from Columbus, Ohio.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 28^th, 2011.